Window assembly



Jan. 13, 1959 T. P. CURTIS r-:rALY

WINDOW ASSEMBLY Filed April 20, 1954 FIG.

...K Bw T :RW RCU m .R P N B. WMH NM IUL RR TA H C THEIR ATTORNEY` United States Patent O WINDOW ASSEMBLY Truman P. Curtis, Scotia, N. Y., and Charles H. Brunswick, Scranton, Pa., assignors to General Electric Conrpany, a corporation of New York Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,355

8 Claims. (Cl. 333-98) the particular system in which the assembly is employed make it desirable that the window assembly be of minimum dimensions and weight. In reducing the dimensions and weight of the elements comprising the assembly, however, consideration must be given to the prevention of cracking of the window during both the sealing of the assembly and subsequent operational temperature changes. Additionally, it is desirable that the assembly be of such construction as to provide good uniform contact between the edges of the wave guide sections on either side thereof thereby to provide a substantially well-matched structure over a wide frequency range. Accordingly, the primary object of our invention is to provide a new and improved wave guide window assembly.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and improved wave guide window assembly of such size and weight as to be applicable in locations where space and weight are determining factors of the window assembly to be employed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and improved Wave guide window assembly which is reduced in size and weight and includes means for insuring against cracking of the window during sealing of the assembly and temperature changes during operation.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a new and improved wave guide window assembly adapted for insuring substantially uniform current conduction between the guide sections disposed on either side thereof thereby to provide a substantially well-matched structure over a Wide frequency range.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize our invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of our invention, we provide axiaiiy aligned wave guide sections the adjacent ends of which are fitted with. substantially thin ilanges. sealed together at their peripheries. Located between the flanges is a conductive frame in which is sealed a suitable dielectric window. .Disposed on either side of the frame is a conductive spring washer providing a short uniform conduction current path between the guide sections across the frame. The opposing ends of the wave guide sections and the associated flanges are formed to "ice include a counter bore substantially larger than the window.

For better understanding of our invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectionalized elevational view illustrating wave guide sections between which is provided a preferred embodiment of our invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view illustrating in detail the elements of the preferred embodiment of our invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 we have shown our window assembly generally designated 1 provided between the opposing adjacent ends of axially aligned wave guide sections 2 and 3, here shown as of rectangular cross section, although it will be understood wave guides of any cross section can be used.

Our window assembly 1 is adapted for sealing the wave guide sections from each other in order that the sectons may be maintained at different atmospheres both with regard to composition and/or pressure, permitting channeling or propagation of electromagnetic e11- ergy through the guide sections or systems and affording smooth high-frequency energy transmission through the guide sections.

As perhaps better seen in Fig. 2, the window assembly includes a cup ange 4 formed of conductive material and comprising a relatively thin flat circular flange portion 5 suitably secured to the edge of the Wave guideA 2, as by brazing. The cup flange 4 further includes an angular flange portion 6 which is also relatively thin and formed of a conductive material. The portion 6 may be secured, as by brazing, to the periphery of the ilange portion 5 or it may be formed integrally therewith, if desired. Secured to the edge of the opposing guide section 3, as by brazing, is a thin fiat circular conductive ilange 7 adapted for being received in the annular portion 6 of the cup flange 4.

Provided for fitting in the cup ilange 4 and being disposed between the flat portion 5 thereof and the flat ange 7 on the guide section 3 is a thin circular window frame 8, also formed of a conductive material. The frame 8 is formed to include a central circular aperture 9 in which is fitted and suitably sealed a dielectric window 10 formed preferably of a low loss electrical glass or other suitable material adapted for facilitating the transmission therethrough of electromagnetic energy being channeled by the wave guide sections 2 and 3.

Secured to the marginal area of the frame 3 on the side of the ilange 7, as by brazing, is a thin conductive annular ange member 11. In the arrangement described to this point the edge of the annular portion 6 of the cup Piange 4 is adapted for being sealed to 'the exterior edge of the frame llange 11 as by arc welding in the manner indicated at 12. Additionally, the ange 7 is adapted for being sealed, as by soldering in the manner indicated at 13, to the inner side of the frame ange lll. lt will be seen that while we have shown and described the ange 7 as soldered in place in the assembly it could alternatively be so clamped or bolted in place as to provide a satisfactory contact with the rest of theassembly and to enable the structure to be effectively employed as a wave guide coupling device. Thus the wave guide sections 2 and 3 are adapted for being axially connected together with a cli-electric window therebetween and atmospherically sealed with respect to each other. It will be seen that the thin construction of the several metallic eiements comprising the window 'assembly render it relatively eXible and avoids setting up during the sealing operations, stresses which might strain or crack the window when subsequently subjected to operational temperature changes.

In order to assist in reducing the size and weight of the Window assembly 1, the diametrical dimensions of the flat flange portions 5 and 7 are made as small as possible without deviating from good wave guide coupling design. However, the electrical path provided for the conduction current through the flat flange portions 5 and 7 and the annular flange portion 11 may for some purposes be undesirably long. Therefore, it is desirable to provide means for affording a good short conduction current path between the opposing ends of the wave guide sections. Additionally, owing to the general difficulty of obtaining uniform surface contact between members such as the flange portions 5 and 7 and the window frame 8, it is further desirable to provide means for insuring uniform electrical contact between the flange portions 5 and 7 and the frame 8 about the window and adjacent the edge thereof. Both of these desiderata are obtained by providing resilient annular members or spring washers designated 14 and 15 and formed of any suitable highly conductive resilient material. The spring washer 14 is dimensioned to fit in the annular flange 6 and is disposed between the flange 5 and the window frame 8. The inner edge of the spring washer 14 is formed to include a plurality of centripetally extending leaves 16 which are inclined from the plane of the washer proper toward the surface of the frame 8 on the side of the wave guide section 2. The washer is smaller and is dimensioned to fit in the central opening in the frame flange 11 and the inner edge thereof is formed to include a plurality of centripetally extending leaves 17 inclined from the plane of the washer proper toward the surface of the frame 8 on the side of the wave guide section 3. When the window assembly is completed in the manner shown in Fig. l the Washers 14 and 15 are compressed between their corresponding flat flange portions and the window frame 8. Thus, the planer portion of the washer 14 is f held in resilient contact with the inner surface of the flange 5 and the leaves 16 thereof are held in resilient contact with the frame about and adjacent to the window whereby a relatively short and uniform electrical path is provided between the wave guide section 2 and the frame. In an identical manner a similar electrical path is provided between the frame 8 and the flange portion 7 on the wave guide section 3 by the washer 15. Thus, the spring washers 14 and 15 are effective for providing a relatively short uniform conduction current path between the wave guide sections 2 and 3 across the frame 8 whereby the structure is adapted for being well-matched over a wide frequency range.

As shown the wave guide sections and the flat flange portions thereon are counterbored at 18. The counterbored sections are somewhat larger in diameter than the window. By this construction a window of greater diameter than the shorter dimension of the wave guide sections may be employed without introducing undesired electrical discontinuities. We have found that by this construction low Window resonance can be obtained.

It will be appreciated that the particular structure of our window assembly facilitates assemblage thereof. The cup flange 4 is adapted for receiving rst the spring washer 14 and then the frame having the window ffl fitted and sealed therein. Thereafter, the window frame may be pressed into the cup to compress the spring washer 'ffl a desired amount and to align the edges of the flanges 6 and 11 for welding at 12 to effect the seal of the wave guide section 2. Following welding, the spring washer 15 may be put in place with the flange thereover and the latter may be pressed inwardly to compress the spring washer a desired amount. Thereafter the soldered seal f3 may be eected or the elements may be clamped or bolted to secure the flat flange 7 to the annular flange 11 on the frame thereby to seal the wave guide section 3.

lt will be seen from a consideration of the foregoing specification that our invention provides a new and imu proved wave guide window assembly of reduced size and weight in which Window cracking during manufacture 4 and operation is avoided. It will be seen further that our structure provides a relatively short and uniform conduction current path between the wave guide sections whereby it is substantially well-matched over a wide frequency range and that our structure is adapted for obtaining low window resonance.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment of our invention we do not desire our invention to be limited to the particular form shown and described, and we intend by the appended claims to cover all modificatie-ns within the spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United State-s is:

1. A terminating wave guide structure for hermetically sealing a wave guide output comprising a rectangular wave guide section, a conductive cup-shaped flange secured to and extending longitudinally beyond an end of said wave guide section, a conductive cup-shaped frame disposed in said flange and sealed only at the rim thereof to the rim of said flange, a dielectric window sealed in said frame and having a diameter greater than the smaller diameter of said wave guide section, said flange and said end of said wave guide section including a counterbore greater in diameter than said window, and compressed conductive resilient means between said flange and said frame about said window, whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected from said wave guide section to said frame.

2. A terminating wave guide window assembly for hermetically sealing a wave guide output comprising a wave guide section, a conductive cup-shaped flange secured to and extending longitudinally beyond an end of said wave guide section, a conductive cup-shaped frame disposed in said flange and sealed only at the rim thereof to the rim of said flange, a dielectric window sealed in said frame, said flange and said end of said wave guide section including a counterbore greater in diameter than said window, and a conductive spring washer disposed between said frame and flange about said window, said washer inclu-ding a plurality of discrete centrally extending leaves encircling said window, said leaves being compressed between said frame and flange and extending into said counterbore toward said window, whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected from said Wave guide section to said frame.

3. A wave guide window assembly comprising a pair of thin conductive members adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of a pair of wave guide sections to be joined, said members being sealed at the peripheries thereof, a thin conductive frame disposed between said members and sealed to at least one thereof, said frame having a dielectric window sealed therein, said window having a transverse dimension at least as great as a transverse di mension of the guide sections to be joined, and a conductive spring washer disposed between each of said mem bers and said frame, the inner edge of each of said washers being formed to includea plurality of centripetally extendlng leaves inclined toward said frame and encircling said Window, said leaves being compressed between said members and said frame whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected between said members across said frame.

4. A wave guide structure comprising a pair of axially aligned rectangular wave guides having the opposed ends thereof longitudinally spaced, conductive flanges secured to the adjacent ends of said guides and secured together at the peripheries thereof, a conductive frame disposed between said flanges and sealed to at least one thereof, said frame being spaced from said opposite ends of said wave guides and having a dielectric window sealed therein of greater diameter than the smaller dimension of said guides, the flanged portions of said guides including opposed counter bores, said counter bores being greater in diameter than said window, and compressed resilient means effecting a short uniform conduction current path between said guides -across said frame.

5. A wave guide structure comprising a pair of axially aligned rectangular wave guides, conductive flanges secured to the adjacent ends of said guides and secured together at the peripheries thereof, a conductive frame disposed between said flanges and sealed to at least one thereof, said frame having a dielectric window sealed therein of greater diameter than the smaller dimension of said guides, the flanged portions of said guides being formed to include opposed counter bores, said counter bores being greater in diameter than said window, and compressed conductive resilient means between said flanges and said frame about said window whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected between said opposing ends of said guides across said frame.

6. A wave guide structure comprising a pair of axially aligned rectangular wave guides, conductive flanges secured to the adjacent ends of said guides and sealed at the peripheries thereof, a conductive frame disposed between said flanges and sealed to at least one thereof, said frame having a dielectric window sealed therein of greater diameter than the smaller dimension of said guides, the flanged portions of said guides being formed to include opposed counter bores, said counter bores being greater in diameter than said window, and a cornpressed conductive spring washer disposed between each of said flanges and said frame and encircling said window whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected between said opposing ends of said guides across said frame.

7. A wave guide structure comprising a pair vof axially aligned rectangular wave guides, thin conductive flanges secured to the adjacent ends of said guides and sealed at the peripheries thereof, a thin conductive frame disposed between said flanges and sealed to at least one thereof, said frame having a dielectric window sealed therein of greater diameter than the smaller dimension of said guides, the flanged portions of said guides being formed to include opposed counter bores, said counter bores being greater in diameter than said window, and a conductive spring Washer disposed between each of said flanges and said frame, the inner edge of each of said n -1 or) washers being formed to include a plurality of centripetally extending leaves inclined toward said frame and encircling said window, said leaves being compressed between said flanges and said frame whereby a short uniform conduction current path is elected between said opposing ends of said guides across said frame.

8. A wave guide structure comprising a pair of axially aligned rectangular wave guides, a thin conductive cup flange secured to one of said guides and including an annular flange portion, a flat flange secured to the adjacent end of the other of said Wave guides and adapted for being received in said cup flange, a thin conductive frame disposed in said cup flange, said frame including an annular flange, sealed at the edge thereof to the edge of said annular flange portion of said cup flange, said flat flange being sealed in said frame flange, said frame having a dielectric window sealed therein of greater diameter than the smaller dimension of said guides, the opposing flange portions of said guides being formed to include opposed counter bores, said counter bores being greater in diameter than said window, and a conductive spring Washer disposed between each of said flanges and said frame, the inner edge of each of said washers being formed to include a plurality of centripetally extending leaves inclined toward said frame and encircling said window, said leaves being compressed between said flanges and said frame whereby a short uniform conduction current path is effected between said opposed ends of said guides across said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,422,189 Fiske June 17, 1947 2,422,190 Fiske June 17, 1947 2,473,724 Okress lune 21, 1949 2,597,081 Goodhue May 20, 1952 2,674,644 Goodloe Apr. 6, 1954 2,683,238 Millman July 6, 1954 2,686,900 Rigrod Aug. 17, 1954 2,727,180 Wheeler Dec. 13, 1955 2,796,457 Stinger June 18, 1957 

